IATA warns that up to 5 million flights are at risk with a No Deal Brexit

Up to 5 million flights are at risk if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) has warned.

The aviation trade association has said that while most flights will go ahead if the UK crashes out of the EU after 29 March, there “remains uncertainty” about future air travel.

The guidance from the EU states that a no-deal Brexit would lead to airlines capping flights at 2018 levels. This is in spite of airlines already selling tickets for 2019 routes.

Iata, which crunched the numbers of airlines’ planned 2019 capacity, estimated that up to 5 million extra airline seats are at risk of being cancelled if a no-deal Brexit occurs. Much of this extra capacity would typically be around the summer holidays to deal with family demand, Iata said.